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wren_rainbow's review against another edition
4.0
Such a bittersweet feeling upon completing this trilogy. I completed it still quite not understanding the world and inner workings. A lot of questions left unanswered. < I don’t blame Nassun for her choices and understand why she was making them >. My heart aches for them all but hope that it works out in the end. <Also wish I could see a snippet of Essun and Alabaster’s reunion as well as what her and Hoa end of doing>
I will definitely reread this trilogy in a few years. It will be interesting to read this with a whole new perspective
I will definitely reread this trilogy in a few years. It will be interesting to read this with a whole new perspective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Genocide, Death, Body horror, Grief, War, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Slavery, Gore, Confinement, and Physical abuse
sparklefarm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Rusting. EPIC! 5 stars for the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Cannibalism and Death of parent
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Murder, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Violence, Pregnancy, Death, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail
tayanapier's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A wonderfully devastating end to the trilogy.
NKJ has woven themes of oppression and motherhood so effortlessly into a SFF world that you can feel it in every page.
Why you need to read this series:
LGBTQI+ representation
The pros
Found family
The world building and magic system is insane
This series is unapologetically black
NKJ has woven themes of oppression and motherhood so effortlessly into a SFF world that you can feel it in every page.
Why you need to read this series:
LGBTQI+ representation
The pros
Found family
The world building and magic system is insane
This series is unapologetically black
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism
clhtdr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cannibalism, Child death, and Death of parent
kabrahams's review against another edition
4.5
A fantastic ending to this stunning trilogy! I don't know if I loved it as much the second time around as the mysteries of the world and its magic were known to me, but the characters made it so worth coming back to.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cannibalism
boglord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Torture
hanarama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Book at a Glance:
• Series finale
• Epic science fantasy
• Parent and child dynamics
• End of the world
• CW: body horror, dismemberment, death of a parent, death, cannibalism, environmental disasters, starvation, brain injury
I can't imagine a better ending to this absolutely breathtaking trilogy. While I had suspected how the story would play out, I would never call this story predictable. Rather, N.K. Jemisin masterfully crafts this story, showing her characters' motivations clearly as well as their doubts, worries, and hopes.
Essun and Nassun are both compelling, messy, and flawed people. Jemisin breaths such life into both of them, that it feels impossible to root for either to succeed/fail against the other. Both of them have had such rough lives, their reactions to the harsh world they live in are understandable, even as they act in malice. The dynamic between them, as mother/daughter feels so real, even though they spend much of the book separated.
The framing device of this as well as the previous installments gives some hint towards the conclusion, however, like the rest of the book, is so unique in execution.
When I first read The Fifth Season, I had a hard time getting into the story initially. There was so much world building to take in, and Jemisin has a melodic style that I found, at times, difficult to focus on. However, as I continued, I found myself drawn deeper into the story, and understanding better. I'm sure that I missed things on my first readings, but I know that this is a story that deserves to be read multiple times. Even after finishing the trilogy, I frequently find myself just thinking about it. This is a really beautiful trilogy. I'm excited to read it again in the future.
• Series finale
• Epic science fantasy
• Parent and child dynamics
• End of the world
• CW: body horror, dismemberment, death of a parent, death, cannibalism, environmental disasters, starvation, brain injury
I can't imagine a better ending to this absolutely breathtaking trilogy. While I had suspected how the story would play out, I would never call this story predictable. Rather, N.K. Jemisin masterfully crafts this story, showing her characters' motivations clearly as well as their doubts, worries, and hopes.
Essun and Nassun are both compelling, messy, and flawed people. Jemisin breaths such life into both of them, that it feels impossible to root for either to succeed/fail against the other. Both of them have had such rough lives, their reactions to the harsh world they live in are understandable, even as they act in malice. The dynamic between them, as mother/daughter feels so real, even though they spend much of the book separated.
The framing device of this as well as the previous installments gives some hint towards the conclusion, however, like the rest of the book, is so unique in execution.
When I first read The Fifth Season, I had a hard time getting into the story initially. There was so much world building to take in, and Jemisin has a melodic style that I found, at times, difficult to focus on. However, as I continued, I found myself drawn deeper into the story, and understanding better. I'm sure that I missed things on my first readings, but I know that this is a story that deserves to be read multiple times. Even after finishing the trilogy, I frequently find myself just thinking about it. This is a really beautiful trilogy. I'm excited to read it again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Genocide, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
spellboundchapters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"They’re afraid because we exist, she says. There’s nothing we did to provoke their fear, other than exist. There’s nothing we can do to earn their approval, except stop existing – so we can either die like they want, or laugh at their cowardice and go on with our lives."
Oh what a way to end a series!
We finally get the whole story and I can tell you, it was worth the wait, although part of me can’t help but wish we had it in book 2. But at the same time, it makes more sense for it to be in book 3 I guess. Maybe it’s just due to my conflicted feelings with The Obelisk Gate haha.
My favourite thing in this series remains the themes N.K. Jemisin incorporated: family/found family (I especially loved the relationship between Nassun and Schaffa here), racism, colonialism and climate change. These were all well done, without it being too "in your face".
This wasn't a 5 stars for me as I found myself struggling more than with the previous books when it came to picturing everything that was going on, which is something I’m not used to so I felt extra frustrated. Maybe it’s the incorporation of sci-fi elements? I already know I’ll benefit from a re-read! I also had a few issues with the pacing, it was very slow at times and then the ending wrapped up so quickly… it kinda fell flat for me, and I was expecting more. It’s a shame because other than that, I overall liked the way it ended!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Cannibalism
rainbowwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Genocide, Excrement, and Blood